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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

DNA-affinity-purified Chip (DAP-chip) Method to Determine Gene Targets for Bacterial Two component Regulatory Systems

DNA-affinity-purified Chip (DAP-chip) Method to Determine Gene Targets for Bacterial Two component Regulatory Systems

Published on: July 21, 2014

Evolutionary characteristics of bacterial two-component systems.

Xia Sheng¹, Maxime Huvet, John W Pinney

¹Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. x.sheng08@imperial.ac.uk

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|July 24, 2012

Summary

Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) show correlated evolution and flexibility. Component reuse and bacterial lifestyle significantly influence TCS presence, highlighting evolutionary adaptability in signaling pathways.

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Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation

Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation

Published on: January 4, 2017

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Microbiology
Systems biology

Background:

Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) regulate environmental interactions.
TCSs comprise a membrane-bound histidine kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the co-evolution and patterns of gain/loss of TCS components across bacterial species.
To investigate the influence of bacterial lifestyle on TCS evolution.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive characterization of TCS component presence across ~950 bacterial species.
Statistical testing for correlated gain and loss patterns.
Analysis of sequence similarity and component reuse.

Main Results:

Evidence for correlated evolution of TCS components, alongside significant evolutionary flexibility.
High sequence similarity among components from different TCSs suggests potential for crosstalk and recruitment.
Bacterial lifestyle is a major determinant of TCS presence/absence.
Preferential loss of either histidine kinase or response regulator components indicates component reuse.

Conclusions:

Bacterial TCS evolution is characterized by both correlated patterns and remarkable flexibility.
Component reuse and shuffling are key evolutionary strategies in bacterial signaling.
Findings have broad implications for understanding evolutionary systems biology.